The objective of this study was to present our experience and evaluate our results of endoscopic balloon laryngoplasty (BL) in children with subglottic stenosis (SGS) at a pediatric tertiary center over a 5-year period. This study reviewed 41 pediatric patients diagnosed with acquired SGS who had undergone BL as the primary course of treatment. Cases were analyzed for details including patient demographics, SGS grade and length, timing and the type of surgery, presence of tracheostomy, comorbidities, postoperative management, complications and outcomes of balloon dilatation. Forty-one children (22 girls and 19 boys) who had undergone BL at a mean age of 26 months (range, 1 month to 14 years) were included in the study. Nineteen (46.3%) were diagnosed with acute SGS (12 thin stenosis, 7 thick stenosis) and 22 (53.7%) with chronic SGS (9 thin stenosis, 13 thick stenosis). The success rate of BL was 100% in patients with acute and chronic thin membranous stenosis. The effectiveness of BL was significantly higher in patients with acute thick stenosis than in patients with chronic thick stenosis (p=0.016). This study confirms that BL in patients presenting with acquired SGS with thin membranous stenosis, regardless of whether acute or chronic, can have a good prognosis. However, the results are less promising in cases of chronic thick stenosis.

Introduction: The purpose of the present study was to determine the possible effect of allergic rhinitis (AR) on voice change in children with acoustic analysis and Turkish children’s voice handicap index-10 (TR-CVHI-10). Methods: This is a case-control study. Forty-one children with AR, and a positive skin prick test, as well as 39 children of controls who had produced a negative skin prick test and lacked a history of allergic disease, were selected for the study. Each assessment included recordings for the purposes of acoustic voice analysis (fundamental frequency [f0], jitter %, shimmer %, and harmonics-to-noise ratio (HNR)), and aerodynamic analysis (maximum phonation time (MPT) and s/z ratio). All participants completed TR-CVHI-10. Results: The mean TR-CVHI-10 score of the AR group was significantly higher than the control group (p = 0.013). No difference was observed between the AR and control groups in terms of jitter, shimmer, HNR, and MPT values and s/z ratio (p > 0.05). Conversely, the f0 value was more pronounced in controls (270.9 ± 60.3 Hz) than in the AR group (237.7 ± 54.3 Hz) (p = 0.012). Conclusion: The study’s results revealed that AR can have an effect on fundamental frequency and voice quality in children. The diagnostic process should include AR as a potential cause of voice disorders in children.

Türk Otorinolarengoloji Arşivi

Bilateral vestibulopathy (BVP) is a rare disorder that markedly reduces quality of life through impaired vestibulo-ocular reflex and related symptoms. This study aimed to describe the etiological features of BVP and assess functional outcomes using subjective and objective tools. A retrospective review was conducted in 31 patients with BVP. Demographic data, etiologies, and comorbidities were analyzed. Functional outcomes were evaluated with Dizziness Handicap Inventory (DHI) and video Head Impulse Test (vHIT). Statistical analyses examined correlations between these measures. The mean age was 55 ± 16 years. Idiopathic cases comprised 19.4%, while ototoxicity was the most frequent cause (41.9%), mainly aminoglycosides (29%). Advanced age and comorbidities were risk factors for ototoxicity. Mean DHI score was 59 ± 21, with highest scores in ototoxic cases. Mean vHIT gains were 0.37 ± 0.17 (right) and 0.36 ± 0.20 (left), with lowest values in ototoxicity. A significant negative correlation existed between vHIT gains and DHI scores (r=-0.616, p < 0.001). In our retrospective cohort, ototoxic medications appear to be the leading cause of BVP, especially among older patients with comorbidities. The inverse relationship between vHIT and DHI highlights the need to integrate both assessment methods for comprehensive evaluation. These findings emphasize ototoxicity awareness and validate complementary use of objective and subjective assessments.